Yule Be Glad You Came

On November 30, 2025, Cincinnati won’t just be wrapping lights and trimming trees. The city will be tuning up guitars, dimming the lights, and embracing the spirit of the season when Chris Young brings his inaugural holiday tour—“It Must Be Christmas: An Acoustic Evening with Chris Young”—to Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.

For a performer whose voice is as warm as bourbon by the fire, it’s a wonder this is his first holiday tour. But perhaps that's exactly what makes it special.

A Baritone Built for Christmas

Chris Young isn’t dabbling here. He’s long been a vocal champion of the season—his 2016 It Must Be Christmas album wasn’t just a side project, it was a statement of reverence for the traditions, melodies, and memories wrapped up in December. From gospel-infused classics like “Silent Night” to swooning renditions of “The First Noel,” Young proved then that holiday music wasn’t a marketing gimmick—it was a personal calling.

Nine years later, that musical spirit finds its most intimate form: an acoustic tour. No smoke, no fireworks. Just a man, a guitar, and a voice built for storytelling. And Cincinnati gets one of the first full doses of it at Hard Rock’s sleek and sonically rich performance venue.

The Setting: Rock Meets Roots

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati has emerged as more than a gambling destination. With 300 locations in nearly 75 countries and a memorabilia collection that includes over 88,000 pieces, the brand understands showmanship. But it also knows how to create a space where authenticity can breathe.

That’s why Young’s acoustic format fits so well within its walls. In a venue that has celebrated icons of every genre, an evening with Chris Young—unplugged, emotionally raw, and sonically precise—isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a seasonal centerpiece.

A Season of Milestones

This tour isn’t an isolated event. It coincides with a major chapter in Young’s career. Just weeks earlier, on October 17, he’ll release his tenth studio album, I Didn’t Come Here to Leave, marking his debut with Black River Entertainment after years at RCA. The 14-track album includes 11 co-writes and showcases an artist reinvigorated by creative control and collaborative clarity.

He’s described it as a return to his “baritone roots,” and while the title track pulses with arena-ready drive, it also gestures toward something more timeless. The idea of staying power. Of legacy. Of knowing when to evolve and when to hold the line.

It’s a fitting mindset for a man preparing to sing “O Holy Night” on a crisp Sunday in late November.

Country at Its Core

Since his 2006 breakout win on Nashville Star, Young has stacked up 14 No. 1 hits and 9 billion streams. He’s shared the stage with the likes of Alan Jackson and Martina McBride, and charted hits alongside Kane Brown and Vince Gill. And yet, despite his crossover appeal and production polish, he remains, as the Associated Press recently called him, “one of his era’s finest traditionalists.”

This Christmas tour proves that once again. At a time when country music is chasing pop sheen and festival flash, Young is dialing it down—just a guitar, maybe a fiddle, and a setlist that moves from “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to originals about loss, love, and long drives home.

It’s country music the way it used to be. And also the way it ought to be—especially at Christmas.

A Homecoming of Sorts

Cincinnati is no stranger to holiday spirit. From the lights of Fountain Square to the symphonic echoes at Music Hall, the city takes December seriously. So it makes sense that a tour rooted in warmth, intimacy, and nostalgia would find a stop here.

And for fans of Chris Young—whether they’ve been around since The Man I Want to Be or discovered him through Famous Friends—this acoustic evening offers more than just seasonal cheer. It’s a reminder of what brought them to country music in the first place: storytelling, sincerity, and songs that feel like home.

Ticket Information

Tickets for It Must Be Christmas: An Acoustic Evening with Chris Young at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati are available now at HardRockCasinoCincinnati.com via Ticketmaster. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.